How I Failed at Becoming an Alcoholic

How I Failed at Becoming an Alcoholic

At the age of 24 I moved to Nelson, BC to attend the Kootenay School of Art. I knew no one in the town or even at the art school yet. Being a student I had to live in economical housing. I had a room in a rooming house without a kitchen or living room and had to share a bathroom with a number of others. There was a hot plate and fridge in my small room, not much fun for the already cook I was. It truly was a depressing situation to find myself in.

In those days living in Nelson, I liked dry red wine so I would buy a bottle and drink it all alone in my room getting inebriated every night. I thought I might as well become an alcoholic; as it was in the family to be one.

Family of Alcoholics

Having graduated in Social Work I learned that my father, grandparents and uncles were not simply beer lovers they were alcoholics. The definition that I grew up with did not fit them as they did not fall or shout or even have the shakes if they did not have their alcohol for a couple of days. My father would say ‘I just like the taste of beer.’ Even my mother’s father and grandfather were alcoholics so I come from a long line of them.

My family was not the kind of alcoholics that most people picture.

Big Problem

Soon my bladder and kidneys began to react and I was in so much pain that I had to stop after only two weeks of drinking wine nightly and could not resume my activity to become an alcoholic. I failed at becoming an alcoholic.

Still I was able to have the occasional glass of wine at parties and dinners without any problem that I could see.

Later…

When I became very ill with Fibromyalgia and Severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome I did not drink alcohol ever; I found it increased being weak.

As I began to get better I was at a birthday party in a Japanese restaurant with a group of friends. I remember how much I liked sake when I was in Japan so I ordered one and then another and then another. After three servings of Sake one of the people at the table ordered a bottle of sake so I had three more. I did not feel anything, which was interesting because when I was younger my friends would always joke about what a cheap drunk I was; after one or two glasses of wine I would be telling jokes and be very funny.

Drinking non-alcoholic healthy punch at my birthday party.

After six servings of sake I was not at all inebriated. No funny Diana, telling jokes. When I went to the washroom and looked in the mirror; I saw a very red face. That was the only sign I had at that moment from the alcohol. If only that was the only side effect. What happened after that is memorable enough to put me off drinking forever. I had a hangover for six months!

Do I ever drink alcohol now?

No and I am not at all interested in having even one sip. I know how it makes my body feel and value vibrant health more. I do not miss it at all. No self control required. That glass of expensive red wine does not look appealing to me not even for one sip. I can be silly and fun without it and be naturally high. No need for a substance to to that. Best of all I am left full of vibrant energy after parties.

In our testing we always find that alcohol lowers the vitality of everyone which includes me.

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I am the Founder and Author at Real Food For Life. Have been teaching cooking classes worldwide since 1982.
Create original, healthy recipes and menus, which are gluten free and white sugar free. Also, the author of the GREEN means LEAN and Balance Your Body e-books. I turned a debilitating health crisis into a passion for helping others with healthy, sugar free, gluten free eating and cooking.